The changing perception of the heath Lüneburg Heath

the heath in late autumn

painting erwin vollmer, 1942

as late turn of 18th 19th century, barren , treeless heathlands still perceived hostile , threatening environments, evinced 2 travel logs of journeys between 1799 , 1804:

as had traversed hanoverian dominions in many directions, did not expect find nature clothed in charms, or high degree of population, fertility, , cultivation. next lauenburg, think worst tract of equal extent ever met with. soil 1 vast sandy desert, either naturally bare, or covered patches of heath or grass.

— charles gottlob küttner: travels through denmark, sweden, austria , part of italy, in 1798 & 1799. london 1805.

on leaving zell passed through dark wood, of @ least 2 leagues in extent; , city harburgh, in line of twenty german miles, travelled on sandy plains , extensive heaths. @ great distance, geese, ducks , sheep of poor appearance, never failed indicate vicinity of wretched hamlet. habitations! whole families, of wretched appearance, , covered tattered garments, associate together, eat , sleep cattle. near these real catacombs observed growing few stalks of rye , barley, , here , there few tufu of buck-wheat. straw short , stunted, , ears of diminutive size. population , agriculture must ever dependant on each other.

— michel ange mangourit: travels in hanover, during years 1803 , 1804. london 1806.

the poem der heideknabe ( heath lad ) year 1844 friedrich hebbel stresses unearthly atmosphere , bleak solitude of heaths:

:(...) out, out of town! , there stretches,

the heath, misty, ghostly,
the wind swishing on it,
oh, every step here thousand others!


and still, , quiet,
you around signs of life,
only hungry birds dart by
out of clouds, spear worms (...).

towards middle of 19th century first positive descriptions of heath emerged, inspired romantic movement. industrial revolution in germany, unspoilt nature became more important people, providing welcome contrast rapidly burgeoning cities. because heathlands of north germany being increasingly decimated cultivation , reforestation, appeared worth protecting. numerous writers , painters portrayed beauty of heath, particularly when in bloom in august , september. 1 important heathland artist eugen bracht. famous heath poet local writer hermann löns (1866–1914), spent time living in hunting lodge near westenholz. worked heath countryside books , promoted foundation of first german nature reserve on lüneburg heath. purported remains buried in juniper copse @ tietlingen near walsrode in 1935. works source heimatfilme shot on lüneburg heath, such grün ist die heide ( heath green ) 1932 , remade in 1951 , 1972, rot ist die liebe ( red love ) 1956.